The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 256

Li Er sat on the dragon throne, his face somber.

"My esteemed subjects, do you have any other good ideas?"

"...Why not send people from the Ministry of Works to build dikes? Once the leaks are plugged, the flood problem will be solved."

“Lord Zhang, the Vice Minister of Works is intelligent in flood control, but it will take at least half a year to build the dikes and dams. Can the disaster victims wait for half a year? These people lack food and clothing and are likely to die of disease. When people are crowded together, it will be easy for an epidemic to break out, which will be even more troublesome.”

Du Ruhui said with a deep expression,

At this moment, Li Er felt that the mess in front of him was really giving him a headache.

Fang Xuanling said, "Your Majesty, if we send grain now, it will not be enough. If we run out of supplies later, it will incite a popular uprising."

But if we don't build dikes, the floodwaters will only rise, and more people will suffer. However, if we send people to build them and raise funds and supplies for disaster relief, it will inevitably empty the national treasury. This is simply an unsolvable problem. Furthermore, the Turks are watching us closely outside Yanmen Pass; we absolutely cannot do this.”

The eunuch Kou beside him reminded him, "Your Majesty, there is one more person, Grand Tutor Xu!"

Yes, Xu Tian has always been full of tricks. Besides, I heard from the Crown Prince these past two days that he's started some kind of private school in the countryside. He seems to want to be a coward, while I'm putting him in a difficult position. So I waved my hand and said, "Court adjourned."

"The way of the university lies in manifesting one's bright virtue."

As Li Shimin walked over, he heard a group of children reciting their lessons. He immediately went in through the side door and happened to run into the steward.

The butler knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty..."

"What emperor? Your Grand Tutor?"

The steward then calmed down and said, "Grand Tutor Xu is giving a lesson. I will go and inform him right away."

The butler knocked gently on the door and saw Xu Tian turn his head. Seeing the butler's bitter and resentful expression, Xu Tian went out.

"What's wrong? The Emperor is here."

The butler nodded.

"I thought it was something serious."

Xu Tian immediately went to the back garden and saw Li Er standing on the bridge.

"Your subject Xu Tian pays respects to Your Majesty."

"My dear minister, there's no need for such formalities. I've come to see you today because I have urgent business to discuss."

"Is Your Majesty concerned about the floods in Jizhou, Youzhou, and Tongzhou?"

Xu Tian calmly took out the design drawings he had prepared.

"This is a topographical map that I surveyed earlier. The Yellow River estuary in Ji County has breached its banks, Youzhou has damaged the estuary, and Tongzhou has suffered damage in many places. As long as Your Majesty constructs the fortifications according to the method shown in this design, the flooding will definitely be significantly improved within a month."

Li Er simply nodded, glanced at him, patted Xu Tian on the shoulder, and then returned to the palace, handing the design to the Vice Minister of Works.

The Ministry of Works personnel went back overnight to investigate.